Death by rectal haemorrhage

I can think of a few nicer ways to shuffle off this mortal coil rather than bleeding to death from the rectum!

From ninemsn 23/2/09

A boy in China has been killed by an office chair after it exploded while he was sitting on it, according to reports.

The 14-year-old boy died from extensive bleeding after the chair’s gas cylinder burst, sending metal chair parts into his rectum. While pictures of the chair have swept the internet, they did not reveal the boy’s name or when the incident allegedly occurred. A gas cylinder containing compressed air is typical of adjustable office chairs. An air valve operated by a side handle on the chair may be used to raise or lower the seat. In 2007, another chair reportedly injured a person after exploding in China. Newspapers said a 68-year-old man escaped with minor injuries after a 20cm chair piece pierced his bottom.

Recording industry complains - 95% of digital music is obtained illegally!

Digital music revenues are up but the recording industry is complaining - Not like they don’t charge an arm and a leg anyway.

All that is happening is a rationalisation in the market. Consumers pay for good music and won’t pay for the rest of the padding that makes up an album, particularly as most of it is just rubbish. Why should an additional charge be levied on a medium that has increasing revenue purely on the basis of figures that they can’t prove?

From economist.com 4/2/09

Big record companies and music-retailer may be struggling, but sales of digital music are booming. Global revenues leaped by 28% last year, despite piracy - up to 95% of digital music is obtained illegally, reckons the IFPI, a trade body. Though this figure is disputed, governments are enacting tougher legislation to catch illegal file-sharers and shut down the sites they use. Last week Britain’s government proposed a £20 ($28.60) levy on every household using broadband to help offset the costs of piracy.